Updating Alberta's 911 Grant Rules for Next Generation 911

Official title: Emergency 911 Grants Regulation engagement

Closed Regulations & Permits Health & Safety Technology & Digital
Alberta is updating its Emergency 911 Grants Regulation to prepare for Next Generation 911 (NG911), which will let people text 911 instead of just calling. The province consulted with 911 call centres about expanding the definition of a 911 call and clarifying which centres can receive grant funding.

Why This Matters

Have an emergency but can't speak? By 2027, you'll be able to text 911 in Canada. This consultation shapes how Alberta funds the call centres that will handle those texts. If you pay a cellphone bill in Alberta, you're already contributing to this through a provincial levy.

What Could Change

The regulation may be amended to officially expand what counts as a '911 call' to include texts and other media. Grant eligibility rules could be tightened to ensure only Alberta-based call centres receive funding from the provincial levy.

Key Issues

  • Should the definition of a '911 call' be expanded to include texts and other media for NG911?
  • Should grant eligibility be restricted to only Alberta-based 911 call centres?

How to Participate

  1. This engagement was targeted at Alberta's Public Safety Answering Points (911 call centres), who were contacted directly and invited to respond to a written survey by the end of August. For general inquiries, contact aema911@gov.ab.ca.

What Happened

The province contacted all of Alberta's Public Safety Answering Points directly and invited them to respond to a written survey by the end of August. Feedback will help ensure the Emergency 911 Grants Regulation supports NG911 and informs decision-making about clarifying grant eligibility.

Key Documents